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To me this development is the most interesting thing going on. Whatever it turns out to be is all to the good. Sure the simple explanation that it is related to D12 is most probable. But I've got my fingers crossed that the mystery is really something they are doing with D10 that will amaze everybody. Bandwidth is what it all boils down to, at some point Directv is going to have to come up with a technological breakthrough to get more out of what they have. Imagine if they find a way to crack the rain fade problem with KA. That would be a real game changer.

Anticipating what's in the box is usually better than finding out what's inside.

To me this development is the most interesting thing going on. Whatever it turns out to be is all to the good. Sure the simple explanation that it is related to D12 is most probable. But I've got my fingers crossed that the mystery is really something they are doing with D10 that will amaze everybody. Bandwidth is what it all boils down to, at some point Directv is going to have to come up with a technological breakthrough to get more out of what they have. Imagine if they find a way to crack the rain fade problem with KA. That would be a real game changer.

Anticipating what's in the box is usually better than finding out what's inside.

All of the *TEST channels now have a # associated with them. The actual data is in the format ... for 9789: "tv:4260.ch".

There's 70, D10 has 70, D12 should have 80

So what do you think that means? Are these Test channels just placeholders for when D12 comes online or is Directv looking at squeezing more channels on the existing sats? Or could this be the precursor for the "Netflix"-like service thats been talked about with these "channels" that would push content onto the receivers?

So what do you think that means? Are these Test channels just placeholders for when D12 comes online or is Directv looking at squeezing more channels on the existing sats? Or could this be the precursor for the "Netflix"-like service thats been talked about with these "channels" that would push content onto the receivers?

My gut feeling is that these "channels" are just placeholders in the data and do not represent real bitstreams (yet). As Sixto notes, D10 shares the 103º slot where D12 will be parked operationally, but so too does Spaceway 1 (which is conspicuously empty these days). Once the data placeholders are updated to reference something besides D10 (such as D12 or SW1), we'll have a better idea of what they really represent in terms of content.

Interesting times.

"Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!"Directv since 1997Will Work for Beer

Except the indication that they will be adding 70 + hd channels, so now people can stop worrying if D12 will add anything or not

Just playing Devil's advocate, those could be 70 PPV.

What has people worried is the uncertainty of what will be added. While I hope that 90% of the people will be happy, I will admit that I am not getting my hopes up at this point like I did with D11. While I agree that D11 added a lot to those without local channels, I, myself, did not gain a lot from all that available bandwidth. My anticipation of D12 is tempered in so much that I'll believe the "200 channel hype" when I see it on my receiver.

My gut feeling is that these "channels" are just placeholders in the data and do not represent real bitstreams (yet). As Sixto notes, D10 shares the 103º slot where D12 will be parked operationally, but so too does Spaceway 1 (which is conspicuously empty these days). Once the data placeholders are updated to reference something besides D10 (such as D12 or SW1), we'll have a better idea of what they really represent in terms of content.

Interesting times.

I had not really seen or paid attention to SW1. It seems a huge waste of resources to have a quiet satellite in the sky. Is SW1 capable of sending the National HD? I saw a post about the ability of one of the satellites to quickly redirect streams, making it better for the on demand stuff. Is it possible SW1 then is the national provider? What is the functional life remaining on SW1? The d10-12 line is supposed to be operational for at least 15 years, right?

I don't want to go down the "anticipation path" here (there's a thread for that).

Would there be anything in the stream specifically for Versus, if it was to show up in a short time span (for example next Monday) or since we previously had the channel, could we "flip the switch" and it's on?